Tiarella plant named ‘Wissahickon’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Tiarella cordifolia  plant characterized by its glossy, deep green foliage and its white flowers that re-bloom throughout the summer.

Botanical classification: Tiarella cordifolia.

Varietal denomination: ‘Wissahickon’.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new Tiarella cordifolia was selected during 2007 as a seedling fromthe garden at the Nursery of Sinclair A. Adam Jr. at Coatesville, Pa.,U.S.A. The exact parentage of the new variety is unknown. It resultedfrom seedlings grown from open-pollinated plants of Tiarella cordifolia,and Tiarella cordifolia var. collina. Several hundred plants are grownfor seed production, and some or all of these plants are likely includedin the parentage of the new variety of the present invention.

The new variety has been carefully preserved and studied since the timeof its discovery. Had such new variety not been discovered andpreserved, it would have been lost to mankind.

It was found that the new Tiarella cordifolia, variety of the presentinvention exhibits the following combination of characteristics: (a)exhibits a compact mounding clump growth habit with substantial runners,(b) forms attractive white flowers on branched flower stalks, (c) formslobed ovate green leaves having a glossy finish during the summer,deeper green in the late summer, and turn burgundy maroon with theprogression of autumn, and winter. (d) is particularly well suited forgrowing as a distinctive ornamental ground cover, creating a dense standin a season.

The new variety of the present invention can be readily distinguishedfrom other previously known varieties of the species in view of thedistinctive combination of characteristics discussed herein. The glossygreen spring & summer, foliage and fall and winter color is consideredto be particularly noteworthy.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry andexpands the choices of ornamental ground covers which fills in as astand well. It performs well wherever a ground cover is desired, and isparticularly well suited for use as a border planting, use in shadedareas, and for ecology and restoration casting open pollinatedseedlings, and asexual runners.

The runners (stolons) and flower stems of clumps have been used toasexually propagate the new variety at Delhi, N.Y. (laboratory), andCoatesville, (breeder and Nursery) Pa., U.S.A. It has been found thatthe distinctive combination of characteristics of the new variety isfirmly fixed and is reliably transmitted to succeeding generations.During observations to date, the new variety has been found to bereadily amenable to such propagation.

The New variety ‘Wissahickon’ can be compared to ‘Brandywine’ (notpatented), which differs from ‘Wissahickon’ in having fewer and shorterrunners, white flowers with yellow anthers and pollen, and foliagesuffused with maroon along the veins. ‘Wissahickon’ can also be comparedto cultivars from the same breeding program, ‘Octoraro’ (U.S patentapplication Ser. No. 12/589,995), ‘Delaware’ (U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 12/589,997), ‘Susquehanna’ (U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/589,996), and ‘Lehigh’ (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/589,998).‘Octoraro’ differs from ‘Wissahickon’ in having larger white flowers,foliage that in spring has maroon markings localized on the veins, andin having foliage that turns golden yellow with red veins in the fall.‘Delaware’ differs from ‘Wissahickon’ in having red colored runners.‘Susquehanna’ differs from ‘Wissahickon’ in having foliage that inspring has maroon markings localized on the veins only, and in havingfoliage that turns red with green margins in the fall.

The new variety has been named ‘Wissahickon’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1: shows a sequence of blooms on plants in Coatesville, Pa. in May.

FIG. 2: shows two one year old plants in the ground in Collegeville, Pa.in August.

FIG. 3: shows a sequence of leaves from immature to mature inCoatesville, Pa. in May.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description of the new variety that wasobtained while observing plants being grown outdoors, and in thegreenhouse during 2007-2008 at Coatesville, Pa., U.S.A. The plants wereapproximately two years of age and were being grown on their own roots.The chart used in the identification of color is The R.H.S. Colour Chartof The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England. More common colorterms are to be accorded their ordinary dictionary significance.

-   Botanical classification: Tiarella cordifolia ‘Wissahickon’.-   Plant:    -   -   Habit.—Compact mounding clump, several runners.        -   Type.—Evergreen.        -   Height.—Approximately 12 to 18 cm without blooms, and            approximately 30 to 35 cm with blooms.        -   Width.—Approximately 25 to 30 cm.        -   Stolons.—Slightly darker than Greyed-Purple Group 183C in            color, surface is pubescent with hairs 2.5 to 3 mm in            length, internode length 2.5 to 3 cm.-   Foliage:    -   -   Type.—Simple.        -   Shape.—Ovate to broadly ovate, palmately five-lobed            (seven-lobed as the leaf expands) with an elongated central            lobe, and irregularly crenate margins on all lobes having            mucronate teeth. Each tooth has a small point, which is            relatively firm with a leaf vein extending to the end of the            tip.        -   Length.—Approximately 7 to 10 cm.        -   Width.—Approximately 6 to 9 cm.        -   Margins.—Incised with dentation.        -   Apex.—The lobes are broadly obtuse to rounded and cuspidate.        -   Base.—Cordate.        -   Texture.—Upper surface; Slightly rugose with a velvet matte            finish and pubescent with hairs 2 mm in length and 2 to 3 mm            apart with greater density on margins, lower surface;            pubescent with hairs 1 to 2 mm in length.        -   Arrangement.—Basal clump, with branched runners 6-8 in            number, usually 30 to 40 cm in length.        -   Venation.—Palmately reticulate.-   Young foliage: On the upper surface Yellow-Green Group 144A to 144B,    and Greyed-Purple Group 187A at the center and along the main vein,    and on the lower surface Yellow-Green Group 146B to 146C.-   Adult foliage: On the upper surface Green Group 137B to 137D, and    Brown Group 200B at the center and along the main vein, and on the    lower surface Yellow-Green Group 146B to Greyed-Green Group 191A.-   Fall foliage: Both the ventral leaf surface (upper) and the dorsal    leaf surface (lower) are characterized by areas of light red and    darker reddish-purple that are near and through the following    colors: Red Group 49D and Red-Purple Group 62D in the lighter areas    to Red Group 53D and Greyed-Purple Group 186B in the mid-tones to    Greyed-Purple Group 187A and 187B in the darker areas. The dorsal    leaf surface exhibits a slightly glossier appearance when compared    to the more matte appearance of the ventral leaf surface that    commonly is increased in expression in the autumn foliage.    -   -   Winter foliage.—Upper surface; Purple Group N77 in color,            lower surface; Greyed-Purple Group 183D in color.        -   Petiole.—The length commonly varies from approximately 9 to            15 cm, and the diameter commonly is approximately 2 to 3 mm,            surface texture is pubescent with hairs 0.5 to 2 mm in            length, Greyed-Orange Group 177A in color.-   Inflorescence:    -   -   Type.—Raceme and perfect (bisexual).        -   Number.—Approximately 30 to 40 blooms per raceme.        -   Bearing.—On a branched stalk commonly having a height of            approximately 25 to 30 cm, with up to 2 to 3 short side            branches. Side branches are 6 to 10 cm in length, bearing 15            to 20 blooms.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—About 3 weeks.        -   Flower buds.—Ellipsoid in shape, perigynous, 2 to 3 mm in            depth and 2 mm in diameter, Red-Purple Group 62D in color.        -   Calyx.—Five-lobed, White Group N155A in color, about 7 mm in            diameter.        -   Petals.—Five.        -   Petal shape.—Triangular.        -   Stamens.—Ten, 3 to 4 mm in length. Anthers Yellow-Orange            Group 19 D.        -   Pistil.—One, 4 to 5 mm in length.        -   Flower size.—Approximately 6 to 9 mm in depth on average per            floret.        -   Color.—On the dorsal surface White Group 155B and on the            ventral surface White Group 155A.        -   Fragrance.—Slight and sweet.        -   Pedicel.—Approximately 6 to 9 mm in length, Red-Purple 61A            in color.-   Development:    -   -   Vegetation.—Clump-forming, with runners (stolons).        -   Blooming.—Abundantly when initially blooms during May/June            and sporadically thereafter during the summer and fall.        -   Resistance to disease.—No susceptibility to diseases has            been noted during observations to date.        -   Hardiness.—Has proven to grow well in U.S.D.A. Hardiness            Zones No. 4 to 7.        -   Propensity to form fruit/seeds.—Approx 0.18 grams per (1            year old)plant (about 600 seeds).

Plants of the new ‘Wissahickon’ variety have not been observed under allpossible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possiblethat the phenotype expression may vary somewhat with changes in lightintensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmentalconditions.

1. A new and distinct Tiarella plant as herein illustrated anddescribed.